As many as 1,380 villages were affected and 54,525 persons shifted to safer places. About 2,000 huts were partially damaged, 930 huts completely damaged and 68 heads of cattle perished.

The Cabinet was informed that 242 additional relief centres would be opened in the affected areas and 48,805 persons would be moved into these centres.

The Chief Minister convened the meeting to discuss immediate relief measures and also reservation for Arundathiyars within the existing quota for Scheduled Castes.

The meeting deliberated at length the immediate relief measures to be undertaken even as the rain continued to inundate more areas in the coastal districts.

He announced that the next of kin of the dead would be given Rs. 1 lakh each and the huts – regardless of whether these were damaged fully or partially – would get Rs.2000 to rebuild them.

Mr. Karunanidhi deputed Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin to oversee relief work in the worst affected districts – Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Cuddalore. He has asked PWD Minister Durai Murugan to lead the relief efforts in Tiruchi and Thanjavur and sent I.Periasamy to look after efforts in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin.

Schools closed

District Collectors of all coastal districts, including Chennai, and delta districts announced that schools would remain closed on Friday as a precautionary measure.

66 cm in Orathanadu

Orathanadu in Thanjavur district, which recorded 66 cm of rain during the 24-hour-period that ended at 8-30 a.m. on Thursday, broke the 65-year record of the highest rainfall registered in 24 hours in the State. In two days, Orathanadu registered 99 cm.

Till now, the highest amount of rainfall in a day was 57 cm registered by Cuddalore on May 18, 1943, going by the data available with the Meteorological Department on rainfall recorded by observatories that are known for heavy rainfalls.

On November 25, 1976, Nungambakkam in Chennai recorded 45 cm. On December 5, 1963, Nagapattinam registered 43 cm.

Valparai in Coimbatore district received 36 cm on August 4, 2004 and Meenambakkam recorded 35 cm on November 25, 1976.

Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry registered 48 cm on November 15, 1991.

The system is likely to move in a north-westerly direction and weaken gradually. Most parts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are likely to receive rain or thundershowers while many places over southern parts of the State will receive rain, according to a weather bulletin.